Mar Lodge - National Trust of Scotland

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Main Contact: Anna Griffith

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Dates: 2nd –10th July 2012

Cost: TBC

Accommodation: self-catering hostel-style accommodation on the Mar Lodge Estate.

Pre-requisites: All ages 18+ with an interest in the natural environment. Good physical fitness to manage full days in the outdoors.

Download the Application Form and the Medical Form

About the Cairngorms and Mar Lodge Estate

The Cairngorm National Park in eastern Scotland is the largest National Park in the UK.  It includes Britain’s highest and most massive mountain range with five of the six highest mountains.  It contains a number of internationally important habitats including the biggest area of Caledonian Pine Forest and the high Cairngorm plateau is the largest area of arctic montane habitat in the UK.  It is also a stronghold for wildlife with 25% of the UK’s threatened animal and plant species. It has good populations of Capercaillie, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, Dotterel, Water Voles, Otters and Golden Eagles. 

The Mar Lodge Estate is a traditional Highland Estate, owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.  It is situated in the eastern part of the National Park and includes 8% of the Park area.  It includes a wide range of habitats from Caledonian Pine Forest to 4 of the highest mountains in the UK.

 

2012 Expedition

In 2012 the Brathay Exploration Group Club will be working with the National Trust for Scotland to set up a BEG-NTS long term Water Vole monitoring project.  The aims will be:

  • To input into the design and implementation of a method that will enable monitoring of the Water Vole population across the whole Estate.
  • To become trained in Water Vole Survey techniques.
  • To carry out some initial surveys to refine the method so that the project is ready to run from 2013 onwards.
  • Members of this Club Expedition will have the opportunity to be leaders on future expeditions.
  • There will be opportunities to explore the mountains with the possibility of some overnight camping.
  • If time permits, other suitable projects may be investigated.


The Water Vole is our largest vole species.  It lives in waterways including slow flowing rivers, ditches and lakes.  The most famous Water Vole is ‘Ratty’ in Kenneth Grahame’s book The Wind in the Willows.  Despite once being common the distribution of Water Voles across the UK has declined dramatically due to a variety of factors including a decline in habitat condition.  The Water Vole is now a legally protected species. The Mar Lodge Estate has much good quality habitat for Water Voles, but with limited staff numbers and time it is impossible for NTS to get a good idea of the Water Vole population across the whole Estate.  BEG will be able to provide a team of people to carry out Estate-wide surveys.  The results will therefore be of huge importance to NTS allowing them to monitor the Water Vole populations and manage the land accordingly.

 

Sample Itinerary

(subject to change)

Day 1      Meet Braemar/Mar Lodge
Day 2      Introduction to NTS Mar Lodge by Ranger Service.  Training in Water Vole Survey techniques.
Day 3      Training in Water Vole Survey techniques.
Day 4-8   Water Vole surveys, possible ascent of Beinn a’ Bhuird.
Day 9      Sort results, short presentation to NTS.
Day 10    Depart

 

BEG at Cairngorms